Profit in the June quarter dipped to $881,000 compared with $4.3 million in 2014 for Consolidated Bakeries. For the six months profit was up to $14.8 million from $8.9 million as revenues climbed just 2 percent to $398 million. For the quarter revenues fell 11 percent to $171 million as there was a shift in sales relating to Easter occurring in first quarter in 2015 versus the second quarter in 2014.
“Furthermore in our efforts to streamline the company we initiated product rationalization this quarter, thus reducing non profitable items thereby contributing to gross profit increases. This initiative slowed sales growth, which we intend to grow in the coming months,” management stated in a report to shareholders accompanying the interim Financials.
“During the second quarter gross profit increased to $68 million compared to $61 million for the same period in 2014. It should also be noted that increased expenses impacted profit from operations. The majority of these expenses can be attributed to our increased marketing activities. We deliberately planned these activities to aggressively reposition our brands against other major players in the market. Our merchandising and promotional 
teams were expanded to support this new thrust. We believe these expenses are worthwhile for the long-term growth of the business”, the management’s report went on to state.
The improvement in gross profit in spite of the decline in sales is a big positive going forward as it will help to boost the bottom-line at a faster pace than before, if sales increase. Administrative cost rose 18 percent, well ahead of the growth in gross profit of 12 percent, to $41.5 million in the quarter and for the half year by 11 percent to $$79.8 million. Selling and distribution expenses rose 21 percent for the quarter to $26.4 million and for the six months grew 24 percent to $50 million.
Earnings per share came in at 7 cents for the half year but only 0.04 cents in the quarter, the full year results seems set to be around 10 cents.
The company added $20 million to fixed assets, had borrowings of $57 million and cash and investments of $122 million.
Consolidated Bakeries profit falters
Junior market consolidating mode
Dolphin Cove closed at a new 52 weeks’ high of $11.50 on Thursday.
The JSE Junior Market Index gained 1.83 points to close at 912.96, with the prices of 4 stocks advancing, 4 declining with only Dolphin Cove closing at 52 weeks’ high.
At the close of the market, there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices, 3 with lower offers and with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 6 that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Access Financial had just 100 shares trading with a loss of 90 cents and ended at $15.85, but had an offer to sell 10,000 units at $15.80. AMG Packaging ending with 915 shares changing hands to close with a loss of 1 cent at $3.16, Cargo Handlers finished with 1,535 units to close unchanged at $24,
Caribbean Cream ended with 99,617 shares trading and fell 10 cents to close at $1.60. On offer are 970,000 units at $1.70 and 500,000 at $1.80 while the closest bid is at $1.15 to purchase only 30,000 units. Consolidated Bakeries finished trading with 4,000 shares2 cents higher at $1.17, Dolphin Cove ended with 23,000 shares changing hands to close 50 cents higher, at a 52 weeks’ high of $11.50. Honey Bun had 866 shares changing hands, 33 cents higher to $2.95, Lasco Distributors traded 39,000 shares 8 cents higher, at $1.68 and Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 134,450 units, the price slipped 10 cents to $1.90.
9 down 3 up on junior market
Trading picked up on the Junior Market with 15 securities trading, and ended with 1,497,036 units changing hands valued at $. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 25.44 points to close at 907.33, with the price of 3 stocks advancing and 9 declining and 2 closing at 52 weeks’ high.
At the close of the market, there is just 1 stock with the bid that is higher than their last selling price and only 2 with lower offers. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, AMG Packaging, ending with 5,500 shares changing hands, to close 1 cent lower at $3.19, Caribbean Cream trading 20,000 shares, 10 cents higher to new all-time high of $1.85, Caribbean Flavours finishing with 1,667 shares trading to close 1 cents higher at $2.09. Consolidated Bakeries ended with 65,234 units changing hands but lost 2 cents to close at $1.15, Derrimon Trading finished with 3,599 shares trading to close 10 cents higher at $2.20. 
Dolphin Cove concluding trading with 3,333 shares changing hands to close 25 cents lower at $11. General Accident Insurance ended trading with a loss of 20 cents to close at $1.75 with 34,252 shares trading, Honey Bun lost 33 cents in trading just 2,053 units. KLE Group traded 3,500 shares at 70 cents, Lasco Distributors traded 348,516 shares to close lower by 20 cents at $1.40, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 671,000 units with the price slipping 6 cents to $2. Lasco Manufacturing had 124,982 shares changing hands as the stock traded lower by 5 cents to $1.45, Paramount Trading ended trading with 200,000 shares to end unchanged at $5.50 and Eppley 10% preference share closed trading with 8,400 units and lost just 1 cent to $6 and the company’s 9.5% preference share saw 5,000 units treading at $6.01
Purity profit jumps 204%
A 204 percent increase in profit for Consolidated Bakeries better known as Purity, in the March quarter saw net profit ending at $13.9 million (2014 $4.58 million) from a 15 percent increase in revenues of $226.28 million.
Gross profit margin increased to 34.2 percent from 30.6 percent in 2014 and contributed much to the increased profit. Lower electricity cost would have made a big contribution to the improvement in this area. Administrative and other expenses rose less than revenues at 6.7 percent and selling and distribution expenses rose by 12.1 percent just below the growth in revenues.
The company earned 6 cents per share well up on that for 2014 and compares with the 8.4 cents reported for the twelve months of 2014, IC Insider is forecasting 20 cents for the full year. With the stock price at $1.15 on the junior market, it boasts a PE of 5.7 and has a net asset value of $2.42.
Consolidated Bakeries that produces and markets baked products such as breads, buns, crackers and cookies has equity of $540 million, loans of $64 million and cash funds of $110 million.
Junior market set to slip more
Caribbean Cream was the only stock to rise on Thursday
The market seems set to fall on Friday with several stocks closing with lower asking prices than the last selling prices. At the close of the market, there were 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy 6 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Cream finishing with 8,500 units to close with a gain of 1 cent at $1.20 but ended with the offer at $1.15, to sell 130,000 units. Caribbean Producers with 93891 shares trading, closed lower by 15 cents at $3, Consolidated Bakeries finished trading with 3,334 shares to closed unchanged at $2.04, General Accident Insurance concluded trading with 2,000 shares changing hands to close 7 cents lower at $2. Lasco Distributors traded 219,108 shares at $1.65, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 181,412 units at $1.31. There was dealing in 57,726 Lasco Manufacturing’s shares as the stock traded lower by 7 cent to $1.30.
One broker pulled juniors down
Mayberry sold small volumes several individual stocks with less than two minutes to close, pulling the prices down.
The JSE Junior Market Index declined 2.59 points to close at 866.40, with the price of only 3 stocks advancing and 8 declining and 2 closing at 52 weeks’ high as Mayberry intervened with less than 2 minutes to close by selling a series of small amounts to push several junior market stock prices down.
For most of the day until after 12 noon, the index for the junior market was in record territory to an all-time high. In early morning session junior stocks had put on 13.39 points to 882.38 points a then record. Several very small trades executed on the sell side by Mayberry Investments at 12.52 pm pushed the prices of several stocks down.
Access closed at an all time high of $17 but with only 200 shares purchased by MIL for in house purposes from JMMB
At the close of the market, there were 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Access Financial trading at a new 52 weeks high of $17, but with just 200 units changing hands to gain $1.90, AMG Packaging ended with 2,115 shares changing hands, to close 5 cents lower, at $3.25. Blue Power traded 979 units to close with a gain of 99 cents at $9.80, to close at a 52 weeks’ high, Cargo Handlers finished with 5,000 units to close unchanged at $22.08, Caribbean Producers ended trading with 16,489 shares trading at $2.88. Consolidated Bakeries traded 968,369 units at $1 as the company reported first quarter results showing profit more than doubling from $4.6 million to $13.9 million.
General Accident Insurance concluded trading with 104,533 shares changing hands to close 7 cents lower at $2.08. Honey Bun had just one trade of a mere 2,729 shares with the price falling 40 cents, to $2.50, Jamaican Teas closed trading with 2,170 units and lost 25 cents to $2.65, Lasco Distributors traded 89,880 shares and dropped 20 cents to $1.50, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 62,331 units, the price slipped 10 cents to $1.35. There was dealing in 9,629 Lasco Manufacturing’s shares as the stock traded lower by 1 cent to $1.34, Paramount Trading ended trading with 102,543 shares to end with an a fall of 28 cents at $3.71 and Derrimon Trading preference share finished traded just 1,000 shares to closed end up 25 cents at $2.25.
Junior market inches up
Caribbean Cream traded at a 52 weeks high on Thursday of 95 cents in response to improved full year results.
At the close of the market, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 with a lower offer. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 6 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, AMG Packaging ending with 30747 shares changing hands, 5 cents higher at $3.30, Cargo Handlers finished with 1,500 units with a gain of 25 cents to a new all-time high of $22, Caribbean Cream ended trading with 500,000 shares with an increase of 10 cents at a 52 weeks’ high of 95 cents. Consolidated Bakeries with 100,000 shares traded 6 cents higher at $1, Knutsford Express finished trading with 8,000 shares to closed unchanged at $6. Lasco Distributors traded 235,030 shares trading, 1 cent higher, at $1.47, Lasco Financial Services finished trading with 24,030 units as the price regained 7 cents to $1.30. There was dealing in 52,425 Lasco Manufacturing’s shares as the stock traded lower by 4 cents to $1.30 and Eppley 2019 preference share closed trading 48,700 units at $6.
Juniors record no price change
Activity on the Junior Market closed with 5 securities trading and ending with just 67,673 units changing hands valued at a mere $109,559. The JSE Junior Market Index remained unchanged at 732.52, with no prices changing at the close.
At the close of the market, there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with a lower offer. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and 10 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, AMG Packaging had 10,000 shares trading at $2.26, Blue Power closed at $7.51 with 3,400 shares changing hands, Consolidated Bakeries traded 990 shares at 82 cents, Lasco Distributors 10,000 shares traded between $1.43 and Lasco Manufacturing traded 43,283 shares and closed at $1.07.
Low junior market activity on Friday
The Junior Market closed out the week with very low activity as just 3 securities traded compared to 9 on Thursday, ending with 226,263 units changing hands valued at $227,820. The JSE Junior Market Index is up 0.53 points to close at 741.27, with the price of none advancing, 1 declining and 1 remaining unchanged from the last traded prices on Thursday.
At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 with the offer that was lower. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and 11 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Some buyers have backed off their bids with the interested party in AMG Packaging dropping the bid that was at $2.50 up to Thursday. The bid is now back at $2.26 the last price the stock traded at Caribbean Cream closed with the bid for 73,530 shares at 68 cents 3 cents higher than the last price of 65 cents. Offers for the stock are over $1.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Consolidated Bakeries trading 101,388 shares in closing at 82 cents, Knutsford Express had 896 shares trading at $5.80 and Lasco Manufacturing traded 123,979 units and lost 3 cents to $1.10.
Junior market indicators point higher
Lasco Financial Services’ stock was the sole one to gain on the junior market
At the close of the junior market had 6 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 9 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale, the latter is in keeping with the increase in the number of stocks with bids that are higher than the last selling prices.
At the close only 6 securities traded and ended with only 314,145 units valued at $336,525 changing hands. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 0.11 points to close at 689.20, with the price 1 advancing and 1 declining.
Stocks trading on Monday are, Lasco Financial that closed with 13,811 shares changing hands to gain 7 cents at $1.05, Consolidated Bakeries closing with 815 shares trading at 82 cents, General Accident finishing with 40,000 shares changing hands at $1.75, Honey Bun ending with 4,625 shares trading at $1.71. Lasco Distributors concluded trading with 167,894 shares changing hands at $1.45 and Lasco Manufacturing ended having 87,000 shares changing hands to close 2 cents lower at $1.10.